Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO921
2008-04-04 02:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NATO SUMMIT
VZCZCXRO3083 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #0921 0950246 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 040246Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3158 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7080 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9463 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5526 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7676 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0749 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2635 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2197 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8662 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9197 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000921
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NATO SUMMIT
UNCLAS TOKYO 000921
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NATO SUMMIT
1. LEAD STORIES: Several Friday morning papers gave top
coverage to Thursday's arrest of a 22-year-old U.S.
sailor on suspicion of fatally stabbing a taxi driver
in Yokosuka last month.
2. "NATO Eastward Expansion Losing Steam" The top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri reported from Bucharest
(4/4): "With the official participation of Ukraine and
Georgia in NATO being shelved, the organization's post-
Cold War strategy of expanding eastward appears to be
losing momentum. As Russia under President Putin has
restored its 'great power' status and blocked NATO's
eastward expansion for the first time, NATO is likely
to be forced to review its strategy toward Moscow....
The U.S. and European countries have been forcing their
sphere of influence eastward while discounting Russia's
opposition with the goal of embracing the former Soviet
republics. However, they miscalculated by not being
able to predict the revival of a strong Russia, which
was possible due to a surge in the prices of natural
resources.... The confrontation of the Cold War days is
not an option. Working-level cooperation between NATO
and Russia, such as joint patrols in the Mediterranean,
has been in place since 2001 in line with the war on
terrorism and the prevention of WMD proliferation. NATO
is likely to explore a new approach toward Moscow using
these accomplishments as a starting basis."
3. "Cooperation for Afghan Stability Not in the Offing"
A correspondent for the liberal Asahi wrote from
Bucharest (4/4): "In view of the announced commitment
by France and others to deploy additional troops in
Afghanistan, NATO on the surface was able to
demonstrate its unity in enhancing security maintenance
operations there. However, as it has failed to come up
with concrete measures for stabilizing Afghanistan,
disarray apparently remains within the organization."
4. "U.S. Grip on NATO Eroding" A Washington-based
reporter for the liberal Asahi asserted in a piece from
Bucharest (4/4): "NATO's decision to put off membership
for Ukraine and Georgia is a setback for President
Bush, given that he made his support for their
accession clear during his recent visit to Ukraine....
The U.S. has been consistent in using NATO as a venue
for ensuring security in Europe and for exercising
leadership based on its military power. The U.S. grip
on NATO is now beginning to wane."
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NATO SUMMIT
1. LEAD STORIES: Several Friday morning papers gave top
coverage to Thursday's arrest of a 22-year-old U.S.
sailor on suspicion of fatally stabbing a taxi driver
in Yokosuka last month.
2. "NATO Eastward Expansion Losing Steam" The top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri reported from Bucharest
(4/4): "With the official participation of Ukraine and
Georgia in NATO being shelved, the organization's post-
Cold War strategy of expanding eastward appears to be
losing momentum. As Russia under President Putin has
restored its 'great power' status and blocked NATO's
eastward expansion for the first time, NATO is likely
to be forced to review its strategy toward Moscow....
The U.S. and European countries have been forcing their
sphere of influence eastward while discounting Russia's
opposition with the goal of embracing the former Soviet
republics. However, they miscalculated by not being
able to predict the revival of a strong Russia, which
was possible due to a surge in the prices of natural
resources.... The confrontation of the Cold War days is
not an option. Working-level cooperation between NATO
and Russia, such as joint patrols in the Mediterranean,
has been in place since 2001 in line with the war on
terrorism and the prevention of WMD proliferation. NATO
is likely to explore a new approach toward Moscow using
these accomplishments as a starting basis."
3. "Cooperation for Afghan Stability Not in the Offing"
A correspondent for the liberal Asahi wrote from
Bucharest (4/4): "In view of the announced commitment
by France and others to deploy additional troops in
Afghanistan, NATO on the surface was able to
demonstrate its unity in enhancing security maintenance
operations there. However, as it has failed to come up
with concrete measures for stabilizing Afghanistan,
disarray apparently remains within the organization."
4. "U.S. Grip on NATO Eroding" A Washington-based
reporter for the liberal Asahi asserted in a piece from
Bucharest (4/4): "NATO's decision to put off membership
for Ukraine and Georgia is a setback for President
Bush, given that he made his support for their
accession clear during his recent visit to Ukraine....
The U.S. has been consistent in using NATO as a venue
for ensuring security in Europe and for exercising
leadership based on its military power. The U.S. grip
on NATO is now beginning to wane."
SCHIEFFER